God Who Will Not Let Go

 

Reading : Matthew 18:10-14 

It is not the will of your Father who is in heaven 

that one of these little ones should perish.

Matthew 18:14

Lent teaches us that grace begins not with our search for God, but with God’s search for us. In Matthew 18:10–14, Jesus tells of a shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine sheep and goes looking for the one that has wandered away. This shows us the heart of God. He cares deeply for every person He has made. He does not forget the one who has drifted, been hurt, or gone astray. Scripture says, “I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away” (Ezekiel 34:16), and “The Lord is patient… not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God’s love is always reaching out, always calling us back, always inviting us into close fellowship with Him.

Many of us pull away from God. We may try to cover our feelings, our sins, our disappointments, or our fears. We may act as though everything is fine, even when our hearts are troubled. But God does not seek us in order to shame us. He seeks us to bring us back. Jesus shows us that the Father is not looking for a reason to push us away; He wants to welcome us home. C. S. Lewis wrote, “God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there.” We are always being invited to choose trust instead of fear. When we come to God honestly, we discover that His mercy is greater than our wandering. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us” (1 John 1:9).

This love also teaches us how to care for others, especially children and those who are spiritually vulnerable. If God values each little one, then so should we. By kindness, truth, prayer, and example, we can help point others toward Christ. Lent calls us to come to God as we truly are and to trust the Shepherd who still goes looking for every wandering sheep.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that Your love is always reaching out to us. When we drift away, call us back. Help us not to cover up our fears and sins, but to come to You honestly. Thank You that You do not turn us away, but welcome us with mercy. Make us gentle and faithful in helping others find their way to Christ. Amen. 

Led Like a Flock

The Final Word 

“You led your people like a flock 

by the hand of Moses and Aaron.” 

Psalm 77:20 

Psalm 77 is a journey through anguish, doubt, and silence. It begins with raw lament and ends not with resolution, but with quiet reassurance. The final verse offers a powerful image: “You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.” After all the questions and sleepless nights, the psalmist affirms this one unshakable truth—God still leads His people. He does not abandon the flock in the valley. Even when His footprints are unseen (v.19), His presence is sure.

This shepherding imagery runs deep in Scripture. From “The Lord is my shepherd” in Psalm 23 to Jesus declaring, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:14), God reveals Himself as One who walks beside His people. He doesn’t always explain the path, but He promises His presence on it. In the wilderness, God led Israel not with loud miracles alone, but through the steady hands of Moses and Aaron. 

What’s striking is that God chose flawed leaders. Moses doubted his calling. Aaron stumbled along the way. Yet God used them. He entrusted His people to their care. This reminds us that God leads not only directly, but also through the ordinary people He places around us—pastors, parents, mentors, friends—those who walk beside us in our uncertainty and faith.

Walter Brueggemann writes, “Even in silence, Yahweh leads.” We may feel lost, without direction or clarity. But this verse whispers assurance: we are still being led. Not driven. Not forgotten. Led—gently, patiently, like a flock under the care of a faithful Shepherd.

Let this final word of Psalm 77 anchor us. God is our Shepherd. His hand is steady, even when hidden. He is leading us through.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, our Shepherd, thank You for leading us—gently and faithfully—through every storm. Even when we cannot see the path, help us to trust that You are guiding us. Use others to walk beside us, and teach us to follow You, one quiet step at a time. Amen.